Former Mombasa county Transport executive member  (CECM) has joined the list of candidates gunning for the Football Kenya Federation President post.

Balala who is also the patron of Mvita Young Stars Football Club says he has the solution to problems currently facing football in the country.

Speaking to Ommy Dallah, Balala pointed out the lack of investment in the football fan base as the major factor hindering the development of football in the country.

"The major problem facing us is that we do not invest in the people who are the main factor in football and that is the fans. Football is one of the major investments in the world and this is made possible by having a good fan base" said Balala.

Adding " You cannot have a strong national team without a strong fan base. I believe I have the solution to all the problems facing football in our country".

Balala said he believes his ideas on how to improve football in the country are different from the other candidates who have shown interest in the seat.

"All those who have now shown interest in the position have been there before, which other new ideas will they bring when they get into that office? posed Balala.

Incumbent Nick Mwendwa will not be defending his seat after serving the mandatory two, four years term.

Other candidates who have shown interest in the post are Gor Mahia Secretary General Samuel Ochola,  ex- FKF chief Sam Nyamweya, Hussein Mohammed and US-based Sammy ‘Kempes’ Owino who is also a former Kenya international,

Nyamweya was at the helm of the federation for over 20 years before Nick Mwendwa took over the stage.

The election is set for February 2024.

The Mombasa county government has signed  a Memorandum of Understanding with the Swahilipot hub for development and operationalization of a job application app that will help connect the youths with suitable employers in their preferred fields. 

Speaking during the signing of the deal, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the app named 'Fursa App' developed by young app developers from Swahilipot hub, is dedicated to helping youths find opportunities to advance their careers and achieve their goal.

Nassir noted that the app will be be ring-fenced to only accommodate and help the people of Mombasa alone.

"The reason why the app is ring fenced is because we will jealously guard the people of Mombasa for them to be the only ones who will receive the opportunities and benefit from the app" said Nassir.

Adding " The application will basically allow everyone especially the youths from Mombasa to upload their CVs and what they have been abled to achieve in their careers at the same time potential employees will be given back end access where they can get to identify the details of the people they are looking for."

Nassir revealed that they have already established and identified a number of companies that will be using the app.

"We are looking forward to officially launch the app in the next 10 days or one week" said Nassir.

On his part the lead developer of the app Chris Achinga said the app will be accessible to all smart phone users.

" Developing the app was not an easy thing, the governor wanted something that will not lock or discriminate anyone, he had some special features which he wanted to be include. We developed something that is secure, we tested it twice and I believe it is something that will help my fellow youth." said Achinga.

Adding "Any phone user Android or IOS will be able to use the app."

Swahilipot Hub C.E.O Mahmud Noor encouraged the youth to take advantage of the app.

"In most cases we have seen some companies approaching a politician for job openings but the politician ends up giving the slots to his people, this will not be the case in Mombasa. This should be emulated in other counties. Our youth should also take advantage of this app." said Noor.

As the the country awaits the arrival of the Elnino rains the Kenya Red Cross Society has began engaging communities living in flood prone areas such as Budalang’i and Nyando in early action protocols that will enable them mitigate the effects of the floods and any disaster that may come by it.

Due to the close proximity to the Lake, flooding is common calamity within West Kenya Region especially in Counties bordering Lake Victoria such as  Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Homabay and Migori Counties.

Another cause of the flooding is as a result of the lake backflow during the rainy seasons as the areas are in close proximity to the lake hence easily get submerged due to large rivers and their tributaries that feed Lake Victoria for example River Nyando, River Auji, River Miriu and Awach in Kisumu, Rivers Migori, Kuja, Sare, and Oyani in Migori., River Nzoia and river Yala in Siaya and Busia Counties, Rivers Tende, Miriu in Homabay.

The Kenya Red Cross Society for the past two months has been engaging the community members in this flood hotspots through their disaster committees in liaison with the local administration in early warnings preparedness.

A Spot check in the said areas found members patching up their makeshift houses, clearing the trenches and bushes while others had relocated to higher grounds. Through Kenya Red Cross, the local disaster committees and the county government has been made to desilt some areas where the manpower needed supersedes human ability.

Kanyagwa Location chief Boniface Otieno has been working closely with the Kenya Red Cross in engaging residents in early warnings and early preparations towards Elnino

“We have a disaster committee with representatives from all corners of the location. We have held several sessions on how to manage and mitigate effects of the expected Elnino rains”, confirmed Chief Otieno.

In 2019 this areas were hard hit by the floods with places such as Ombaka village in Nyando sub county and Buluani in Budalang’i sub county loosing what was once bare land to the waters.This greatly affected amenities such as hospitals and schools had to be shut down or either relocated.

Another impending societal issue that has continued to bite the communities hard is early pregnancies due to the separation of family units during floods.

Petronila Anyango Oniang’ a resident of Ombaka shares how boys prey on school during floods when community members are confined to camps.

“During such periods the men and women are separated as well as the children making the parents loose touch with their children. It is saddening that children as little as 14 years fall pregnant, said Petronila.”

When floods strike, women are often forced to move having lost their livelihoods while some suffer physical injuries. A situation that is worsened by economic and social inequalities which makes it difficult for them to find adequate shelter, food, and portable water.

Moreover, women are further exposed to challenges in maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation, preventing them from performing their roles.

In addition, they suffer from domestic violence and are subjected to harassment when seeking refuge. Despite the recurring destructions caused by floods, women are still excluded from political, community and household decision-making processes that affect their lives.

Apart from floods there other foreseen dangers such as displacement, waterborne diseases caused by stagnant water as well as loss and damage to property. Through the sensitization sessions, the community members are developing coping measures to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters, especially floods, by moving to safer grounds ahead of the reported El Niño rains. T

he involvement of women especially at the planning stage has led to a positive behavioral change contrary to the usual norm.

Baraza Media Lab and Wowzi, have announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at reshaping the creator economy through cutting-edge research and development.

This dynamic collaboration underscores the immediate relevance and necessity of advancing the creator economy ecosystem.

The engagement of African individuals in the digital marketplace has witnessed exponential growth over the past years. With an estimated 745 million active internet users in Africa,

and 216 million active on social media platforms, the rise of influencer marketing has been unprecedented.

The industry is currently valued at $15 billion globally, as of 2022.

The comprehensive research will delve into various aspects of creator marketing in Africa, including key trends, financial implications, technological advancements, social impact,

regulations, and more.

The objective is to gain a better understanding of the current landscape, identify industry gaps, and explore stakeholder perceptions about the future of creator marketing in Africa.

To ensure a comprehensive and diverse perspective, the research will engage brand managers, content creators, and well-established influencers from Telecommunication, Fast

Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Banking, Marketing Agencies, and major content creator platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

Additionally, in-depth interviews will be conducted with key stakeholders, influencers, and industry experts to gain a deeper understanding of the market dynamics.

Mike Otieno, Co-Founder and President of Wowzi, highlights the significance of this partnership in the context of the creator economy.

He said, ‘’The creator economy is rapidly expanding, but creators need more than just tools – they need research-backed strategies to thrive. By partnering with Baraza, we are embarking on a journey to not only support individual creators but to influence the entire ecosystem positively, promoting sustainable growth and innovation."

Maurice Otieno, CEO of Baraza, underscores the urgency of this partnership and its impact on the creator economy, stating, "In the ever-evolving creator economy, data-driven insights

and innovation are paramount. We recognized the urgency to research, refine, and redefine the creator economy, making it more accessible and profitable for creators. This partnership with Wowzi is our collective commitment to elevate the creator community."

This collaboration is set to unlock untapped potential, providing creators with the urgently needed knowledge and resources to thrive in the dynamic creator economy and organisations who want to leverage on influencers through research-backed strategies, refine their monetization processes, and reshape the creator economy for the better.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kings University College London to partner in the establishment of the antidoping lab at KEMRI Centre in Eldoret.

This is one among other steps, the Institute is taking to realize fully the recently launched, Sports Sciences Research Centre in Eldoret.

Kings University College is the only accredited antidoping laboratory in the United Kingdom and among others is the testing centre for all Premier League footballers.

According to KEMRI’s Acting Director General & CEO Prof. Elijah Songok, the partnership with the London-based College will bring on board the required expertise for the Institute to carry out effective Sports Research.

“We are really excited to partner with King’s College- a university that has vast  experience, expertise and reputation in anti-doping testing and research. We believe  this is the right step in ensuring KEMRI serves as a hub for athlete sample testing but  also as a homegrown platform for other research and aim to eliminate the need to send  samples out of Kenya,” Prof. Songok said as he appended his signature on the MOU on behalf of KEMRI.

“We are happy to partner with KEMRI and we shall work together in consultation with WADA for Kenya to acquire the first accredited anti-doping laboratory for the East Africa region,” said Prof Kim Wolff, Head of Kings Forensics Centre.

Among the activities to be done by KEMRI and Kings College include partnership in the equipment of the laboratory with approved instrumentations, design of WADA approved protocols, training of KEMRI staff at Kings Forensics, and partnership in research and testing activities on anti-doping, forensics and drugs of abuse.

KEMRI is also in the processing of signing another MoU with the University of Stirling from the United Kingdom, one of the top five global sports science and research institution.

The Scottish-based University of Stirling university is ranked first in the UK and top five globally in sports facilities and excellence in sports research facilities, a fate that the institute is eager to replicate at the Eldoret Centre.

Some of areas of collaboration will range from healthy ageing to athlete performance, including physiology, nutrition, genetics, coaching, gender, and anti-doping.

Among those who witnessed the signing ceremony at Kings University were Dr. Fredrick Kirui, Chair of the KEMRI Sports Science Committee, Ms. Mary Kairu, Head of Testing at Antidoping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), Mr. Edwin Bett, Chair of KEMRI’s Capital Projects Committee, Ms. Lucy Kanyara, Head of KEMRI Laboratories and a member of the Kenya Medical Laboratory and Technicians Board (KMLTTB), Dr.Lucia Keter, Pharmacist and KEMRI researcher on drugs abuse, and Eva Aluvaala, Head of KEMRI Forensics Laboratory, while King’s University College London delegation, Prof. Kim was accompanied by Prof. Christer Hogstrand, Dr. Shoba Ali, Dr. Rodrigo Aguilera, Dr. Erika Castrighano, Prof. Denis Syndercombe-Court and Prof. Gilhan Tully.

KEMRI Eldoret Centre which was launched in August 2023 by Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nakhumicha  Wafula is designed to prioritize sports health research including comprehensive analysis of biological passports, factors associated with anti-doping testing, nutrition and sports injuries and will also serve as the Rift Valley regional station for research activities for the Institute.

KEMRI Eldoret is poised to evolve into a fully-fledged facility dedicated to comprehensively addressing the well-being of our athletes through a spectrum of holistic research studies including sports medicine and medical research components specifically targeting Nutrition Research, Social and Mental Health Research, Clinical Health aspects, provision of laboratory services as well as antidoping

Tanzanian Bongo Flava legend and music industry veteran Diamond Platnumz is jetting into Rwanda for the Trace Awards, accompanied by two of East Africa’s finest emerging talents, Zuchu and Jux, it was announced today by Trace, Visit Rwanda and Martell.

The first ever Trace Awards will take place at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda on 21 October 2023. The coveted tickets for the awards are available now at www.ticqet.rw.

Diamond Platnumz and his fellow performers join a glittering lineup that brings together 50+ stars from around Africa and the African diaspora including Davido (Nigeria), Bamby (French Guiana), Benjamin Dube (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda), Didi B (Ivory Coast), Dystinct (Morocco), Janet Otieno (Kenya), Josey (Ivory Coast), Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde), Locko (Cameroon), Perola (Angola), Plutonio (Mozambique), Princess Lover (Martinique), Ronisia (France), Rutshelle Guillaume (Haïti), Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde), Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte), The Compozers (Ghana), Viviane Chidid (Senegal), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Mr Eazi (Nigeria), Azawi (Uganda), BNXN (Nigeria), Camidoh (Ghana), Chriss Eazy (Rwanda), Danni Gatto (Cape Verde), DJ Illans (Reunion), Donovan BTS (Mauritius), Emma’a (Gabon), Gaei (Madagascar), Gerilson Insrael (Angola), Goulam (The Comores), Juls (Ghana), Kader Japonais (Algeria), Krys M (Cameroon), K.O (South Africa), KS Bloom (Ivory Coast), Levixone (Uganda), Mik’l (Réunion), Moses Bliss (Nigeria), Musa Keys (South Africa), Nadia Mukami (Kenya), Pabi Cooper (South Africa), Segael (Réunion), and Show dem Camp (Nigeria).

The Trace Awards showcases the excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba. Competing in 26 award categories are artists from more than thirty countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Europe.  For a full list of nominations, please click here.

Targeted at lovers of African and Afro-inspired music and culture, the Trace Awards will broadcast live on 21 October 2023 on Trace TV channels, radio and digital channels and on global streaming platforms, national terrestrial TV and satellite channels. The viewership and social interaction is expected to exceed 500 million fans in 190 countries.

Afro-Pop singer-songwriter and producer, Ndegz makes a comeback with a banging new track “Creep” in collaboration with Kenyan Hip-Hop legend Abbas Kubaff.

This Dancehall-infused track delves into the moral conflict of pursuing a love interest while already being committed to someone else. Ndegz enlists Abbas - lyrical genius and wordplay maestro who brings poetic excellence while offering a unique angle to the single’s story.

Ndegz is back with an impressive track that relays a journey of thirst, deceit and weakness perfectly laced with his multi-layered vocal harmonies on a backdrop to this confessional banger.

Ndegz says, “After six years without a release, it's humbling to see fans still loving and connecting with my music over the years. I want to thank you all for riding with me.”

Ndegz says on the inspiration, “This is a song about the moral dilemma of infidelity. It's a sensitive issue within society, but it happens to be a reality that many people can relate to,” adding, “I started off with a bass line and an udu drum loop, and found myself on a loop singing Creep. I dived into the vision and from there wrote the whole song.” 

Speaking about the collaboration with Abbas Kubaff who is one of Kenya’s Hip hop pioneers, Ndegz expressed his admiration for his counterpart, “I met the legend Abbas Kubaff by chance at an event and told him I’ve been a fan since his career days as a member of rap group K-South. I told him I would love to work with him someday and in the spur of the moment, we went straight to the studio and that's what became of Creep.”

Ndegz has a lot in store. He says, “I am now more excited with my return! I am on a roll and set to release more songs and excited to soon connect with my fanbase through live performances. I am scheduling a series of gigs for an authentic Ndegz experience.”